Collapsible game table



Nov. 6, 1962 c. w. vlETs coLLAPsIBLE GAME TABLE Filed Aug. 12, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

FlG- CHARLES w.v|ETs ATTORNEYS C. W. VIETS Nov. 6, 1962 COLLAPSIBLE GAMETABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l2, 1959 INVENToR.

CHARLES W. VIETS /WM /VM ATTORNEYS I l l l Nov. 6, 1962 c. w. vlETscoLLAPsIBLE GAME TABLE Filed Aug. 12, 1959 '4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-I3INVENTOR.

CHARLES w.v|ETs W7j ATTOR NEYS Nov. 6, 1962 c. w. VIETs coLLAPsIBLE GAMETABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. l2, 1959 FIG- I4 IN V EN TOR.

CHARLES w. VIETS wtf/ W\\\ ATTORNEYS Stats This invention relates togame tables and in particular to foldable game tables.

Game tables such as table tennis tables have the marked disadvantagesfor many locations .of being too large and cumbersome. These tables areoften made collapsible or foldable but heretofore the folding up of sucha table was difficult and time consuming and even after the table wasfolded it would have to be moved to a storage location, all of whichdetracted substantially from the utility of the table.

Another drawback in connection wi-th conventional table tennis tables isthat they are quite large, a regulation table being by 9' with therebeing required a substantial playing area beyond each end of the table.For this reason a great many homes could not accommodate standard tabletennis tables.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this inventionis to provide a game table construction characterized in one respectthat the table can be easily folded up into a minimum amount of spacewith the table when folded still being a unitary structure.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a game tablestructure in which substantially a regulation game of table tennis canbe played but With the table only about half the length of a regulationtable.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of acollapsible game table having a rebounding board at one end so that bothplayers can play from one end of the table or so that a single playercan use the table as a .practice table.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a collapsiblegame table which can be placed against a wall and which when collapsedwill fit closely against a wall and thus eliminating many of theproblems of space requirements that are encountered with regulation sizegame tables.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of anarrangement for a collapsible game table in which a regulation sizedtable tennis table can be collapsed into small space in the for-rn of aunitary structure or in which the table can be about half the size of aregulation table tennis table.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view showing a game table according to myinvention;

FIGURE 2 -is a vertical section through the table as indicated by line 22 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view like FIGURE 2 but shows the table collapsed;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in whichthe support legs at the outer corners of the game table playing surfaceare hinged thereto;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in whichthe divider strip dividing the surface of the playing table is attachedthereto;

FIGURE 5a is a detail showing the attachment of a lifting spring to theback edge of the table top;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View drawn at enlarged scale showing in detailthe construction of one side of the support frame for the game table;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view indicated by line 7-7 on FIGURE 6 showingthe connection of one end of the table top with the supporting frame;

FIGURE 7a is a detail showing the attachment of the lifting spring tothe frame of the table;

titi@ atent C FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing a modifiedarrangement for attaching the rebounding board to the support frame;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the use of a softmaterial to form a dead surface at the bottom of the rebounding boardand at the back of the playing surface of the game table;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view partly broken away showing themanner in which a full size table can -be made collapsible according tothe present invention;

yFIGURE ll is a vertical sectional view through the table of FIGURE l0showing it collapsed;

FIGURE 12 is an end view showing the playing table of FIGURES 10 and 11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view taken at somewhat enlarged scale showingthe inner ends of the two sides of the table `of FIGURES l() and ll andthe manner in which they are connected with the support frame and alsoshowing the net support;

FIGURE 14 is a View showing a modified arrangement ofthe game table;

FIGURE 15 is a view showing a modified arrangement of the game tablewherein the table folds differently into the support frame; and

FIGURES 16 and 17 are views showing, rather diagrammatically, thedifferent manners of supporting the support frame of the table.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, and particularlyFIGURES l through 7, the novel game table according to my inventioncomprises a support frame 10 that has movably connected therewith atable top 12 forming a playing surface that has legs 14 attached theretoat the end opposite the connection of the playing table with supportframe 10. Support frame 10 according to the lirst modification of thisinvention comprises an arcuate rebounding board 16 mounted in thesupport frame and there is provided at the base of the rebounding boardthe dead surface which may be provided by a strip of metal 18 looselyattached to the frame so that the playing ball does not reboundtherefrom as it docs from the rebound board.

As will be seen in FIGURES Z and 3 the support frame 10 comprisesvertical side members 22 interconnected by transverse rails, 24 at thetop and 26 at the bottom. Another transverse member 28 extends betweenthe side rails in the region of the bottom of the rebounding board 16and serves additionally to strengthen the support frame structurally aswell as to provide a point of attachment for the lower end of therebounding board and also to provide a surface on which the metal strip18 forming the dead surface at the bottom of the rebounding board isattached.

The rebounding board 16, which is preferably preformed, has its upperend attached to cross rail 24. At the bottom of the support frameattached to the outer faces of the vertical side rails 22 there may bethe plates 30 forming a foot to give the support frame stability in thefront and back direction. Gusset members 32 may be provided at the topand the bottom of the support frame to impart rigidity thereto.

According to this invention playing table 12 has its end adjacent thesupport frame provided with studs 34 that extend into slots 36 formed inthe vertical side rails 22. These slots are formed to an inverted J atthe upper ends so that the studs 34 can be positioned in the shorterlegs of the inverted Js thereby to support the back end of the playingtable at the proper level but whereby the studs can be moved over intothe other side of the inverted J and will then be slidable down to thelower ends of the slots at 38 to permit collapsing of the game table.

At the other end of the game table which is at the left end as viewed inFIGURE 2, there are the support legs 4h connected with the stiifeningrails 42 that extend along the sides of the game table by hinges 44. Thecollapsible brace members 46 are connected between legs 40 and the gametable so that the legs can be selectively folded against the bottom ofthe table while the table is to be collapsed or latched in positionwhere they extend vertically downwardly and support the playing table ina level condition as it is illustrated in FIGURE 2. To collapse thetable, it is lifted upwardly to about a vertical position about thestuds 34 as pivots, and the studs are then moved over into the longerlegs of the slots 36 and the table will then move down into its FIGURE 3position. The legs can then be folded against the bottom of the table.At this time member 4S attached to the vertical side rails 22 will holdthe table portion substantially or completely within the confines of thevertical support fratrie. To open the table a cleat or hand grip whichalso stiffens the table top, attached to the underside of the table topmay be availed of for lifting the table to bring the studs upwardly inthe slots 36.

To assist in lifting the table top, and to cushion its descent, I preferto attach springs to the table top and frame. These springs may bestrips of a resilient material (natural rubber being preferred) andattached to the frame 1t) by clamp bars 51 as shown in FIGURE 7a, and tothe rear cross member 53 of the table top .by a similar clamp bar 55 asseen in FIGURE 5a.

As will be observed in FIGURE 2, these springs also assist inpositioning studs 34 in the short legs of slots 36 when the table isopened because they bend around the bottom edge of member 28 as -thetable top approaches its open position.

The table top, however, is easily collapsed by pulling it forwardagainst the bias of the springs to locate the studs 34 in the long legsof the slots 36.

As to the playing table itself, in the modification being described, itis desired for the table to be divided into two sides or courts and Iaccomplish this by attaching a metal molding 52 along the center line ofthe table by mounting the molding loosely `on the heads of screws 54.These screws preferably engage the transverse stiiening members beneaththe table top. The ends of the molding are crimped down to retain themolding in place on the screws but still permitting the molding a smallamount of freedom of movement of the screw heads. This provides for apermanent divider strip between the two courts but the strip at the sametime forms a dead member from which the ball will rebound with anentirely different character than from the table, if at all, while theloose connection of the strip or molding on the screws will cause it togive out a distinct sound diiferent from the sound of the ball bouncingfrom the table so that it becomes immediately evident when a ballstrikes the molding 52.

The rebounding board 16 has been illustrated as being supported on themembers 28 and 24. It will be evident that this member, particularlywhen preformed, could be mounted in slot means as at in the verticalside rail members 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 8. This would serve topreserve the shape of the rebound board against warpage and wouldlikewise have the effect of reinforcing and stiffening the entirestructure.

As is shown in FIGURE 9, the dead regions at the back of the playingboard and at the base of the rebounding board could be provided bystrips 62 and 64 attached as by adhesive to member 28 and to the rearedge of the table top. The strips are soft material such as foamedplastic or rubber-like material or a soft felt which will inhibitrebounding of the ball.

The present invention is also adapted for use in connection with aconventional double ended ping pong table such as is illustrated inFIGURES l0 through 13 wherein frame 'Til comprises side rails 72interconnected at the bottom by a base member 74 and having extendingtherebetween adjacent the top other rails 76. The insides of the siderails are provided with slots 78 which,

as in the case of the corresponding slots in the previous modification,may extend completely through the said rails if desired. These slots areengaged by pins 80 on the inner ends of the two portions 82 of theplaying table. The outer ends of the two portions of the playing tableare adapted for being supported on legs S4 connected with the playingtable by hinges 86 and adapted for being latched in their open positionsby the latches S8.

As will be seen in FIGURE 11, the table folds up in the same manner asthe first described modification into a compact package so it canbestored in a small amount of space. The frame may be provided withwheels 99 and a handle 92 so that the table, when folded up, can readilybe moved about.

With the double table of FIGURES l0 through 13, a net is required andthis can be provided for by mounting the bracket means 94 on the upperends of the side rails 72 and between which supports net 96 can beattached.

rIhe game table of the present invention is shown in somewhat modiedform in FIGURE 14 wherein frame 16@ which corresponds generally to thepreviously described support frame has straight slots 162 formed thereinwith there being pins, studs, or bolts at one end of the table portion166 extending through the slots. The table portion 166 has collapsiblelegs 168 at its outer end as previously described. The support framealso has the rebounding board also as previously described.

With the FIGURE 14 modication there is a trans verse member 112extending between the side rails of the frame member at such a pointthat it will support the inner end of the table at the proper level thuspermitting the slot 102 to be formed straight rather than to be curvedin the previously described modifications. The member 112 could also beshort projective at the sides of the frame.

FIGURE l5 shows still another modied arrangement wherein support frame114 has its side members provided with slots 116 extending verticallyupwardly from the inner end of the table 118 when it is supportedhorizontally. Brace members 120 connected between the side edges of thetable and selected points on the side members of the frame permit thetable to be folded into the frame by collapsing the legs 122 thereof andraising the inner end of the table upwardly while dropping the outer endof the table downwardly.

The FIGURE l5 modiiication has the advantage of presenting a finishedsurface when it is collapsed so that the table could even be built intoa recess in a wall if so desired but has the disadvantage of being lesseasy to open and collapse because of the necessity of supporting thetable top While opening and closing the legs.

FIGURE 16 shows one manner in which the table of the present inventioncould be mounted at against a wall 13). This could be accomplished byforming the support frame 132 flat along the back and then connecting itto wall as by hooks 134 or the like. A connection of this nature couldalso be made permanent if so desired, or the support frame couldactually be recessed into the wall, particularly where the table foldedas in the FIGURE 15 modification.

FIGURE 17 illustrates the manner in which a support frame could beprovided with an expansible post 142 so that the frame could be fixedbetween iioor 144 and ceiling 146 in any desired position.

Use of the Table In using any of the tables of the present invention,the table is rst opened and a game can then be played using table tennisballs and paddles with one player for each of the two courts.

The ball may be served, for example by striking it from a bounce so itrebounds from' the rebound board into the other players court. If theball falls into the other court it must be returned by driving it backagainst the rebound board and into the court where the serve originated.If the ball strikes a dead area so it does not rebound, or misses therebound board, or falls outside the court into which it is being played,the player who struck the ball loses the point.

Any manner of scoring similar to regulation table tennis scoring may beused, or any modications in the scoring system to accommodate conditionsor the players preference may be introduced.

A particular advantage of the rebound playing table of this invention isthat it provides for realistic practice by a single player. Also,whether used by one or two players, the rebound table of the presentinvention provides excellent eye exercise because of the sharplychanging course of the ball as it rebounds from the rebound board.

In the case of the rebound type table, the maximum space required toplay is no more than half that required for a standard table tennisgame, and in the case of all modications, the table can quickly andeasily be collapsed into extremely small space.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions; and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible game table comprising; a support frame having verticalside rails in spaced relation interconnected top and bottom, a table topextending horizontally from the fr-ame, legs foldably connected to theend of the table opposite the frame, slots extending vertically alongthe side rails from adjacent the bottom to about the level oi the tabletop, each slot being in the form of an inverted J with the shorter legtoward the rear of the frame, stud means projecting from the sides ofthe table top at the frame end thereof slidably engaging said slotswhereby when the stud means are disposed in the said shorter legs ofsaid slots at the upper ends of the slots and the said llegs are loweredthe table top is supported horizontal and when the stud means aredisposed in the longer legs of the slots the table top can be foldedinto the frame, and the legs collapsed, resilient means connectedbetween the top of the frame and the frame end of the table top tocounterbalance the weight of the table top, and means operable to biassaid table top toward the rear of the frame so the said stud means Willbe urged into the shorter legs of the slots when the table top is movedinto its horizontal position.

2. A collapsible game table comprising; a vertical support frame havingspaced vertical side rails interconnected top and bottom, a table topextending horizontally from the front of the support frame, collapsiblelegs attached to the end of the table top opposite the support frame,slots extending vertically along the inside of said side rails, studmeans on the other end of the table top engaging said slots for guidedvertical movement of the said other end of the table top in the frame,each of said slots being in the form of an inverted J with the shorterleg at the upper end part of each slot providing for releasablysupporting the frame end of the table top in its upper horizontalposition, said frame extending above the said upper horizontal positionof the table top, a transverse member extending between the backs ofsaid side rails immediately above the table top, a rebound boardextending laterally between said side rails having its lower endattached to said transverse member, and resilient straps connectedbetween an upper part of the frame and the back edge of the table top tocounterbalance the weight of the table top, the shorter legs of saidslots at the upper ends of the slots being disposed toward the rear ofthe frame, and said straps bending about the lower edge of saidtransverse member as the back edge of the table top is raised in theslots so as to bias the table top toward the back of the frame andthereby pull the said stud means toward said shorter legs of the slots.

3. A collapsible game table comprising; a support frame having verticalside rails in spaced relation interconnected top and bottom, a table topextending horizontally from the frame, legs foldably connected to theend of the table opposite the frame, slots extending vertically alongthe side rails from adjacent the bottom to about the level of the tabletop, each slot being in the form of an inverted J with the shorter legtoward the rear of the frame, stud means projecting from the sides ofthe table top at the frame end thereof slidably engaging said slotswhereby when the stud means are disposed in the said shorter legs of thesaid slots at the upper ends of the slots and the said legs are loweredthe table top is supported horizontal and when the stud means aredisposed in the longer legs of the slots the table top can be foldedinto the frame, and the legs collapsed, resilient means connectedbetween the top of the frame and the frame end of the table top tocounterbalance the weight of the table top, and means operable to biassaid table top toward the rear of the frame so the said stud means willbe urged into the shorter legs of the slots when the table top is movedinto its horizontal position, and a rebound board extending laterallybetween said rails above the table top when horizontal, said reboundboard being concave toward the table top.

4. A collapsible game table comprising: a support frame having ver-ticalside rails in spaced relation interconnected top and bottom, la tabletop extending horizontally from the frame, legs foldably connected tothe end of the table opposite the frame, slots extending verticallyalong the side rails from adjacent the bottom -to -about the level ofthe table top, each slot being in the form of an inverted J with theshorter leg toward the rear of the frame, stud means projecting from thesides of the table top at the frame end thereof slidably engaging saidslots whereby when lthe stud means are disposed in the said shorter legsof the said slots at the upper ends of the slots and the said legs arelowered the table top is supported horizontal and when the stud meansare disposed in `the longer legs of the slots the table top can -befolded into the frame, and the legs collapsed, resilient means connectedbetween the top of the frame and the frame end of the table top tocounterbalance the weight of the table top, and means operable to biassaid table top toward the rear of the frame so the said stud means willbe urged into the shorter legs of the slots when the table top is move-dinto its horizontal position, and a rebound board extending laterallybetween said side rails above the table top when horizontal, saidrebound board being concave toward the table top, and dead regionsextending laterally at the bottom of the board and at the back of thetable top, said dead reg-ions comprising strips of soft material whichwill inhibit rebounding of the ball.

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